As we prepare for 2010, one of the most asked questions I hear and read is “will mobile be the new Internet?”
I find the question interesting because it could imply that an entire new economy will be created just like the one by the Internet. This could mean new jobs and wealth creation for a new generation.
On one side of the debate the answer is yes. Since our introduction of REALSKI™, a iPhone® application, I have been introduced to a whole new world of companies and individuals just doing mobile development, promotions and consulting. In fact, we could say mobile is creating new industries such as the “i” industry. Today iTunes® has more than 125,000 active apps developed by more than 28,000 unique developers. These numbers are larger than most industries. Just look at Apple’s financials to see if you can make money! Apple only represents a small piece of the global mobile platform and with Andriod, Blackberry and Microsoft targeting this market, the numbers could be staggering.
On the other hand, the answer is no. This belief is based on the fact that mobile is only an extension of existing technologies—phone, PDA and Internet working together. Additionally, there is no unified platform, technology etc. like what we had with the Internet.
I believe there is some truth to a new industry being created with a set of new companies and old Internet companies adopting mobile initiatives. With that being said, my question to answer is where will this mobile application evolution lead RTP? I am not sure. However, I will enjoy the journey that REALSKI will lead us.

Michael McDermott, SVP, RTP, LLC

RTP has always been interested in hearing feedback from its customers—and anyone else who wants to let us know what you think about our company, products and services. So we decided, what better way to hear your opinions and thoughts than to set up our own Blog?

Please use this forum to read about and interact with RTP on a whole new level. We’ll bring you news and interesting tidbits about the company, give you our take on trends in the industry, provide helpful tips and timely topics about our products and services, plus offer other useful and insightful commentary (at least we hope it’s useful and insightful to you). You could even tell us what you’d like our software and interactive marketing ‘experts’ to blog about. After all, unless we know what you think, it won’t be truly interactive, right? So watch for new postings often, and join the conversation!

There are a variety of tools we can utilize during the Creative process – one of them I am most drawn to is the Mood Board. A roll of butcher paper, a stack of magazines, and rolls of tape?! Sounds more like art class than business you say? What is the value? Here are some of my top reasons for taking the time to utilize a mood board on your next web site project.

1. It is a great brainstorming activity with the client at the kick off meeting.
2. A mood board requires people to be engaged, and to think about something a different way.
3. The activity gets people out of their seats, literally. After what can be hours of sitting, this is a usually well received.
4. With a room full of people, it gets each and every one involved in the process. Not just the loudest one.
5. It is a great tool for the creative team to visually capture the audience, and vision of a company.
6. Once the final mood board is complete, it is presented to the client as a visual snapshot of their brand. With a quick glance, it becomes clear if we have missed any key components. It is easier, and cheaper, to adjust things at this stage than during the middle of the design process.
7. An approved Mood Board becomes a key input for the Creative Brief. Without a well written brief, you are walking blindly.
8. If you don’t slow down to consider the audience of your site, you take the risk of designing a site that doesn’t sell the right experience, to the right person.

Margaret Cyphers
Creative Director, RTP Interactive

Mood Board Brainstorming Exercise

Final Mood Board

RTP Interactive launched the Birds of Prey World Cup Race site before the 2007, but the concept behind the web came to life this weekend! It is always great to see our work in action, but this weekend it felt like super speed.

We had dozens of employees on the hill as spectators at this years race. Some of us volunteered on the course, some watched from the stands, and still others hiked up the hill to catch a glimpse of the racers launching off of the Harrier jump. It was truly amazing to see the speed, and hear the sound of the racers and the crowd. (You can never have too much cowbell).

Congratulations to the Vail Valley Foundation for their involvement in a spectacular event. We are thankful to have an event of this caliber right in our backyard.

RTP at the races